Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Chris Cilliza of the Washington Post blog, The Fix, says that former Nebraska Governor Kay Orr has been approached to run for Senate in 2012.

And her reaction?

"I can't see any set of circumstances that would persuade me to get in there again," Orr said. "I'm flattered that I've had some people suggest that I do so. They think it would be an interesting rematch."

Asked whether that meant she was ruling out a challenge to Nelson, Orr said with a laugh: "Is that what I just said?

So coy!

OK, look, Orr would be 73 in 2012. We are not saying that disqualifies her or anything, but it is not like she has been heavily involved in the political scene since her defeat to Ben Nelson...TWENTY years ago. We have no doubt Orr is flattered, but we aren't going to get riled up just yet.

Then again, Ben Nelson ain't exactly a Spring chicken either. So maybe they could re-match up.

The thing is here, there are apparently people going around trying to find alternatives to Jon Bruning and Don Stenberg.

Who better to take on Ben Nelson than the candidate who knows him better than any other? Kay Orr is a sharp, wise candidate who could easily defeat not only the other primary candidates, but also Ben Nelson himself.

10:08, the day is young but you already won "densest comment of the day." Who better to take on Nelson than someone who's a) been out of politics for 20 years, b) was dumb enough to embrace nuclear dumps for Nebraska, and c) ALREADY LOST TO NELSON!!!

Kay Orr might be able to knock off Nelson but getting through a primary is no foregone conclusion. She has no organization in place and hasn't been doing fundraising to build up a war chest. She ain't runnin'.

I don't get what some people's big problem is with John Bruning. So he's ambitious. How many guys get elected to the Senate without having held an elected office previously? For Pete Rickets, it was a liability.

Right now, I'd take Bruning over Stenberg and certainly over Kramer. I don't think Fortenberry will oppose Bruning and will continue to run for (and hold) the 1st CD seat. Kermit Brashear? Mike Flood? Kramer might not get excited about Bruning but he's a whole lot more appealing than 6 more years of Ben Nelson.

Just wait until Bruning gets into a real campaign, when opposition research begins, don't you think they will start talking to former staffers? Not fired ones, the ones who left after less than a year because he was a tyrant? How about the political opportunism in some of his pursuits as AG? Yeah, I think we can do better, much better.

Sorry, but what of Kay Orr's political organization from 20 years ago would still be around today. She's a great lady and served this state well, and I'm not going to knock her. But I will question anyone who claims that her organization is, in any meaningful way, intact.

And keep in mind that campaigning has changed with technology over the last decade. Could she do it? Could she get back into it after being away so long? Perhaps. But Kay Orr is more of a power broker nowadays. Not the candidate. You want to run for office as a Republican in this state? Sit down with Kay and if she likes you, she can introduce you to the people with money. And I frankly thinks she likes that role.

See how she responded in the article? Kay Orr is still quite sharp. And should she decide to run she is immediately credible. Why you ask? The young'uns on this thread need to remember a large number of GOP Primary voters are her age.

The fact that Gov Orr’s comments indicate that she hasn’t really been thinking about running and doesn’t appear to have a deep desire to be a U.S. Senator are precisely why she would make a great candidate.

It makes your average voter a bit leery when over 1.5 years from a primary you have candidates lined up to run whom you have no doubt have had dreams of ‘sugar plums and senate offices dancing in their heads’ for years. It also makes one a bit suspicious of A) their motivation for wanting the job and B) how effective they will be at their CURRENT job between now and then.

Gee, you could always CLICK THE LINK that mentions him. Or you could be lazy, and be told that he used to be State GOP Chair. And he ran for Senate and eventually lost in the primary to Ricketts in 2006. But figuring that out would have meant typing "David Kramer" in the search engine in the upper left corner and seeing all the posts that mention him.

Kramer used to be the head of the NE GOP and ran for Senate against...Stenberg, Ricketts and a host of other players. Successfully ran several other issue campaigns for OPS and I believe construction of the Qwest Center...not sure. Positive focused, down to earth and well organized guy. Lawyer at Baird Holms in Omaha. Don't hold that against him.

YES!!!! I would completely back Governor Kay Orr for the US Senate. She was probably one of the best governors this state has ever had. We are still reaping the benefits of LB 775. She presided over one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. This lady gets it, and I hope she runs.

Where's the love? This woman lost to Ben Nelson in 1990 because of a blizzard in the 3rd District--not because she wasn't electable. As 10:08 AM mentioned, she has more experience running against Nelson than anyone else (except for Stenberg... but he's already proven that he's not going to win it). She'd have my vote over the politically untested Bruning and the hapless Stenberg.

I was reading along through the comments wondering when anyone was going to bring up LB775, Anonymous at 8:02 pm.

In this sense, Kay Orr's "organization" truly is still in tact in Nebraska as someone else commented. That is to say: corporate Nebraska controls all things political!

But it is false to say Nebraskans are "still reaping the benefits of LB775." No benefits were to be attained for about thirty years AFTER the tax advantages were granted. And since the original LB775 was passed in 1989, Kay Orr's "organization" has gained ever greater control via passage of many similar tax incentives extending even to Nebraska's farmers and ethanol producers (who were otherwise being subsidized by both Nebraska and federal income taxpayers).

Even if LB775 and all those bills spawned after it's initiation, (after all, if Peter isn't required to pay his taxes, then Paul has a legitimate complaint about paying his!) ---even IF LB775 had grown Nebraska's economy rather than siphon it's tax revenue, why does anyone believe it is okay to create inequitable tax laws?

Our family was unlucky in that we were caught up in the early LB775 mania. We were brought to Nebraska, literally (see legislative debate surrounding this bill) to shore up the tax base which LB775 gave away. Y'all were USING my family as a MEANS to your ENDS. And that my friendly correspondents, is UNETHICAL.

I never met Jon DeCamp (sp?). But I did read about his challenge to LB775-type legislation. He got nowhere, but his ideology on this score was sound in principle as well as economically.

I knew Jon Bruning from his, er "service" in the unicameral. That man is as unethical and hypocritical as the day is long. He would be no better and no worse than Ben Nelson.

And finally, yes, David Kramer did bring y'all the OPS school bonds (good) and the Qwest Center (bad).

Now that ALL of Kay Orr's supporters have weighed in, can we get serious? So she's shilling for Fortenberry and Foley? Fortenberry isn't dumb enough to give up a secure thing that doesn't draw any viable opposition for him every two years. Who wants to raise money for a Senate race when they have a sure thing in hand that really pays the same and gives all the same bennies? Foley can continue gaining goodwill as the taxpayers' watchdog and then make an eventual run for Governor.

What exactly is the love affair with Sheehy? He was picked by Heineman to secure votes in the 3rd district. He has a ceremonial position that ribbon cuts and does nothing to advance public policy. He's a turn-coat democrat....what exactly are his positives, his leadership potential, his fundraising capabilities, grassroots infrastructure, his qualifications for running and his qualifications for the job?

Sad day in Lincoln for Republicans. While every Republican officeholder is "thinking about" running for Senate in 2012, they can't seem to find a candidate for Lincoln Mayor. Mark Fahleson is in the paper sounding desparate and pathetic "we've got candidates, there's in the exploratory stages."

Don't you feel bad about all those hurtful things you said about Jane Kinsey, she might end up being your Mayoral candidate.

Wow. Cannot believe the incredibly sexist responses here. Can't imagine that the Democrats would say the same things about Bob Kerrey if he decided to run on their ticket. Oh wait: These responses are from the "tolerant" Democrat trolls. Thanks guys!

Tex An- I hope you get a new drum for Christmas. The one you been beating is worn and torn and not getting a thing done. Perhaps you could turn your considerable intellect and keen insight towards offering a plausible solution to the issue of the day.

Or- you could just keep living in the past hoping someone will give a hoot about your perception of a place you don't even live. Which of course is highly sought after by those in a position to put things "Right".

Does anyone know who is running for NEGOP chair in January? Face it, if Mark Fahleson can't recruit a candidate to run for Mayor of his own hometown Lincoln he is just not cutting the mustard. He had nothing to do with Heineman, Terry, Fortenberry, or Smith getting re-elected, and while Democrats got slaughtered nationwide only Kent Rogert was taken down despite the deep pockets of AFP and Pete Ricketts.

Anon 2:15, 11:28, 9:32...I live in Lincoln. I voted for Bush and McCain. I voted for Ken Svoboda as well. I hope those facts demonstrate that I have consistently voted for Republican candidates. Now, I don't think that information makes me special or is particularly interesting...but I offer it only as evidence to counter any argument that I'm some liberal whack-job in lieu of my next statement...

I have no problem with Chris Beutler as mayor. Indeed, many of the concerns I had about him at the time of his election have proven unfounded. He's proven to be a MUCH better mayor than the previous inhabitant of that office, and IMHO, he's done a great job of governing from center. I may still differ from him on many political mayor, but I can't justify kicking the guy out of office with his current track record.

Now I have a question for you anonymous folks that are so concerned about the Lincoln mayoral race...do you even live in Lincoln? How about Lancaster County? Work here, maybe?